Chapter 2 (CHAPTER 2) Settled in

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Two weeks have passed since I was hired. It's been like forever and at the same time it seems like just yesterday when I was given the uniform and Introduced to the young master, Ethan.

At first, I thought he was mute too as he was blind but there was no way he was mute since I could swear I heard him talk the first day. He is as cold as an Ice, his eyes, although blind pierces deep into one's soul when he stares, if I hadn't watched him stumble sometimes to find his way I would have doubted his blindness too like the rest of the staff...

The things I have learned so far are against my wishes. When I first arrived it seemed like everybody was robotic but that only appeared to be an act, just like the rich act differently in front of a camera so does their domestic staff act differently around them. Around Mrs Foster and her husband, the staff put on their best performance going about their duties but once the owners are out, the switch flips, and the gossip begins.

Especially Miss Helen who insists I call her Madam Helen, ever since I arrived she seems to have a bone to pick with me, the reason for that I have come to know, apparently because I am an in-house staff who gets to sleep in the main house pisses her off and she was once in charge of Ethan.

Speaking of Ethan, I was taken aback learning he is the nephew of Mrs Foster. That night I remember being called into Mrs Foster's study, it was two nights after my arrival. Going about my new routine, getting his bath ready when I was summoned.

"I want you to be my eyes," she had said. I was confused and paranoid because she yet again gave off a very dangerous Aura. She wasn't the one blind why would I be her eyes?

"Ethan I am sure you know is not my son," she continued speaking.

"He is my Nephew, I want you to report everything he does, every of his schedule, if you can get him to open up about his thoughts too I will reward you generously." Her tone wasn't the same as the woman who hugged and kissed Ethan all the time.

That night she sounded like a person with a plan and somehow I am a part of that plan, from that day the things I have learned are as confusing as that night. The estate apparently doesn't belong to Mrs Foster but instead to Mrs Foster's Elder sister's husband, who is Ethan's father.

It is forbidden to speak of the previous owners because they are dead, they are Ethans mother which explains why he is called "Young master" because he is young and blind his Aunt, Mrs Foster is his Guardian and oversees the estate as well...

"Lila" The sound of my name immediately woke me up from my wild thoughts as I immediately stood up from where I sat. I took fast strides to stand behind him. He sat on a wooden chair in front of a canvas. It took me a while to realize he just called my name. Not his usual coughing to get my attention rather he actually called my name.

"You called for me, young master," calling him young master was a hassle in the beginning but I guess I have gotten a hang of it after two weeks.

"A glass of water," he spoke yet again.

"Oh of course young master," I replied, moving to the large desk where I had already prepared a bottle of water just in case.

"Here you go" I handed it to him but instead he reached for my empty hand, surprising me.

"Uhm I am sorry," I apologized instead guiding his hand to reach the cup.

"Your hands are cold and frail," A smile found its way to my lips for some reason. Perhaps because he randomly started speaking to me, I almost thought it was never going to happen.

"You are young, by your voice I can tell you are younger, why are you not in school?" his question took me by surprise, and again how can he tell how young I am by my voice.

"I am not that young, I am of the same age as you sir," I corrected, he nodded followed by a scoff, for the first time I watched the corner of his lips curl into a smile. It was beautiful to witness.

"How old are you exactly?" he asked

"I am 18... sir," I answered as I watched the smile grow wider. I knew he was older, but how different is 18 from 20 and I will do anything to keep the conversation going than sitting in silence waiting for a cough or the movement of his stick as an indication of assistance.

"You are indeed younger than I am, I am 20," He corrected. "I assume you have graduated high school,"

"Yes, I am working now to earn a living..." I paused wondering if I was overspeaking, he didn't ask why I was working, I better watch my mouth.

I watched him sip from the cup, I took the cup from him as it has turned into an Awkward silence yet again, he easily found the paint brush laying by his side, I watched as he slowly locates the canvas in front of him, I watched mesmerized just how it's almost impossible to tell he was blind apart from his eyes not looking different at the Canvas. I watched him begin to paint. Stroking the brush on the Canvas.

"Any plans of furthering your education?" he suddenly asked, the question feels hard to answer, while I am working to earn for school it still doesn't guarantee anything, furthering is expensive.

"By God's grace..." I replied instead. He suddenly paused, the paint brush falling from his hand. I immediately lowered to pick it up

"God?" he repeated. "You are religious?" he asked in a different tone. I wasn't but I grew up in an orphanage run by Nuns so...

"Not really, I am not religious," I quickly replied, attempting to hand the brush back to him. He suddenly grasped my hand, my cheeks flushed as the brush fell from my hand.

"Young master...uhm sir.." flustered. I watched him feel my hand.

"Can I?" he suddenly asked politely, Yet again taken aback, he was always conscious of physical touch, he would pause anytime my body mistakenly brushed against his. The only person he allowed to touch him remains his Aunt, Mrs Foster whom he seems very fond of.

But right now in front of me, he held my hand feeling it up very intensively, I knew exactly what he was doing but why? Since he can't see, his hands have become his eyes as he tries to know what it might look like. I have always had it in the back of my mind that he is an arrogant fellow like Mrs. Foster's children, I call them the evil twins. They are not even Twins but hardly do you see one without the other trailing behind.

But Ethan has really not been arrogant, well except the first day when he had on a frown after guessing that I was a girl, his gaze is cold but looking at him now, maybe because he can't see it seems that way. He is sensitive and seems to have severe trust issues, apparently he always has problems with every staff that has been assigned to him, and he always asks for a change. Thankfully nothing of such has happened, he just gave me the silent treatment until now.

"You are Thin and bones," his words cut deep as I immediately snatched my hands, I didn't like that at all.

"I am not sir," I said, offended, just when I thought we might get along. He smiled, grabbing his walking seat as he began to get up.

"You should eat more," he added upon getting up.

"Am sorry sir, but speaking of somebody's weight is not a respectful thing to do," I said, keeping my voice as low as possible. He began to find his way out of the room with his walking stick, I followed behind watching the smile on his face. He sure was in a good mood. It's fascinating how he can easily navigate his ways around the house almost without any help.

"I was speaking out of a place of concern," he said as I yet again Wondered why.

"But I take back my words," it wasn't an apology but I am not about to get fired because my feelings were hurt a little..

A few inches away from him I stood observing him. It's a regular routine where he walks out to the garden for fresh air while I want him. The only difference this time is, he is engaging in conversation and I have come to realize he has a very beautiful smile.

"Is the weather beautiful?" The question took me by surprise, for a moment I lacked the right words to answer.

"It is, the fields are green and the sky appears light blue," I said a bit disappointed at myself. I have never been one to admire nature so I lack the vocabulary to describe how beautiful the day is.

"Blue you say?" He asked, his question made me wonder if he knows what the concept of color is, since he is blind. I wonder how it feels to be without sight.

"The air smells nice too, I suppose the flowers are blooming," he suddenly lowered himself to the floor, without thinking I immediately rushed towards him, holding him from entirely reaching the floor.

"The field is dampened, sitting on the bare grass will wet your pants," I explained as he froze on the spot.

"Come with me," I slowly led him to sit on the bench. His face inches away from mine as his eyes rugged holes into mine, if not that he is blind I wouldn't be able to withstand his gaze.

"Your voice is beautiful," his words took me yet again by huge surprise as my cheeks began heating up. All of a sudden, it felt like my eyes were wiped out of dust, every one of his beautiful features magnifying in my eyes.

"And your scent is peculiar, if only I can see what you look like," my breath hitched as I listened, he was looking at me even though he couldn't see my face.

"You are being too generous with your words...sir,"

"Call me Ethan, I am only two years older than you," he finally looked away, allowing me to breathe in properly.

"You are the first person who haven't stolen from me, neither did you treat me like my disabilities, you didn't force a friendship either, you just did your job, I wasn't sure if I were to trust you but for some reason my instinct believes you are trustworthy and different," I listened closely. Stolen?

I can only wonder how many people have stolen from him since he can't see.

"It seems like every one of my movements is being watched, like I am surrounded with enemies in my own home, you see only my Aunt truly has my back in this world and I think my enemies outnumber my people," I fell completely silent listening to him.

"Am sorry my thoughts might be too heavy but I believe I can talk to you," He said.

"Why do you believe so? Because I'm young or because I am also an orphan like you?" I asked, but he seemed genuinely taken aback as he shook his head.

"I know nothing about you except your name, your voice and your scent now I can picture what your hand might look like and I know your age as well," I watched a smile tug by the corner of his lips.

"Do you by chance have a crush on me, young Master?" I genuinely wondered what really changed.

"Crush! What...what crush? I don't!" he strongly denied as I nodded agreeing.

"I didn't know you were an orphan, what happened to you parents?" he asked. I can not tell what really happened. I just know they are dead.

"The orphanage said they are dead, I don't know what killed them or who killed them," I answered truthfully.

"What about yours?" I asked shifting the topic away from me.

"Car accident," he replied, his words short and direct.

"Maybe if I had died alongside them that day the world would not be so gloomy," a chuckle followed after, he laughed to mask his pain.

"You miss them?" I asked as he nodded, at this point it felt like I was talking to a friend not a boss. I never got to meet my parents. I don't get to miss them but I do question what would it have been like in a reality where they are in my life?

"Mom's favorite color was blue, in this very garden I watched her grow plants now she is no more," it took me a while but not too long to realize what he just said. He "watched" that means he could see.

"What happened to your eyes?" I asked my voice hesitate. Not sure if I was over stepping yet but he seemed chill and in a mood to talk. Almost like he has been wanting to talk for awhile.

"That day I was in the back seat, While Dad had an injury so he couldn't drive, Mother drove the car, I watched the truck drive right at us till everything faded and I never saw again," Again his words were short but I understood immediately.

My hand reached out to grab his, "It must have been so tough for you," I said while he smiled.

"But I have my Aunt," my tongue rolled in remembering how his Aunt demanded I tell her everything. But maybe she is only looking out for him but still I have a very bad feeling about her since then.

"Of course you have her and you can talk to me anytime," I said, smiling back.

"Can I touch?" he asked leaning in, again I was flustered and taken aback, my heart even skipping a bit from surprise.

"Touch what.." I finally was able to ask

"Your face"

"Oh..." I felt the warmth from my face spread to my ears.

"Yes you can," his hands found my face easily, my breath hitched as he began to trace my face, my heart began pounding against my chest, for some reason something about him touching my face felt intimate. I couldn't stop myself from blushing. This was a first for me, I have never felt like this before.

"Your cheeks are heating up," he said, his face squeezing into a concerned one.

"Uhm...uh...it's nothing, uhm are you done?" I asked.

"Are you uncomfortable?" he asked, withdrawing as I began to feel bad. He only wanted to know what I look like, so I immediately held his hand, guiding it back to my face.

"I am very comfortable," I said, watching the smile on his face spread. When Mrs Foster asked me to report everything to her, although spooked I was ready to do as I was told but after this, does she really have to know? I have made a friend and my loyalty lies with my friend...

The night was chilly, Ethan choose to dine away from the rest of the family, so he ate in his room later than the rest, with a smile on my face I made my way to the kitchen with his plate after he was done, none of the staff remained in the house just me, A loud sound startled me, making me freeze on my spot, it was coming from the study of Mr foster, the husband. I couldn't hold back as I made my way to find out what it was.

"You can't continue to make him think like that!" The Angry voice of a man said, I immediately recognized it to be Mr Foster, surprised I leaned in, I barely saw him speak let alone shout angrily.

"He is my Nephew, and I am his Guardian! I am doing everything right for this family!" This time it was Mrs Foster speaking and I immediately knew who the subject was about, it was Ethan.

"That is your excuse every time, you are doing it for the Family, family! Family! Family! When in reality it's all for your selfish reasons," His voice shook me, I wanted to leave but curiosity took the best of me.

"If you are jealous of my achievement say it, it's not my duty to make you feel like a man, stop using him to start an argument,"

"All I am saying is, lying to him that he can't see again is evil. The doctor said the chances are high for him, so just approve the surgery. Is that too much? He already lost his parents, losing his sight too..." The plate fell from my hand as I couldn't listen any longer.

She did what?...